The 2026 World Cup qualifiers are the name of the game on Friday evening, with key contests taking place around Europe. We have a trio of wagers which make up our best bets of the day.BET £10 AND GET £30 IN FREE BETS WITH TALKSPORT BETBet of the dayNorthern Ireland to beat Slovakia @ 29/20It’s advantage Slovakia in Group A of the European World Cup qualifiers after the Falcons got the better of Germany and Luxembourg last month. However, that could all change in front of a packed Windsor Park on Friday night. Manager Michael O’Neill has put together a youthful and progressive squad and the Green and White Army have become a tough team to beat at their Belfast fortress. Northern Ireland have lost only one of their last seven home matches, winning five of those contests, and that includes an excellent 2-0 victory over Denmark and 5-0 hammering of Bulgaria.Youngsters Shea Charles, Isaac Price, Justin Devenny and Callum Marshall have been incorporated into a squad which already contained the likes of Conor Bradley, Trai Hume and Dan Ballard and there is now depth, energy and quality flowing through the Northern Irish roster. Of course, Slovakia’s success over Germany is an eye-catching result, but that was a bolt from the blue for a side who won only two Nations League matches last term and could only beat Luxembourg 1-0 recently. In fact, Luxembourg were the better side in that September contest and Slovakia are better judged on that effort. Northern Ireland can leave the Belfast supporters buzzing on Friday night.Special of the dayFrance to beat Azerbaijan 6-0 @ 15/2Few European nations can boast the quality and strength in depth of France and Les Bleus could storm to success over minnows Azerbaijan.Milli Komanda opened their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign with a crushing 5-0 loss in Iceland and Aykhan Abbasov’s men have allowed 19 goals in their last seven matches. Fernando Santos was dismissed from Azerbaijan managerial duties last month and caretaker Abbasov has been handed a tough gig. Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise and Hugo Ekitike are amongst France’s plethora of attacking options and Didier Deschamps’ men are expected to win comfortably, with 6-0 in the correct score market our long-shot tip.Long shot of the dayOver 2.5 goals in Belgium v North Macedonia, over 3.5 goals in German v Luxembourg, Kosovo to beat Slovenia @ 5/1 Belgium have scored 12 goals in their opening two 2026 World Cup qualifiers, but the Red Devils could be made to work by North Macedonia. That’s not to say that Belgium won’t win Friday night’s Gent tie, but the visitors can contribute to a high-scoring contest. Germany can’t afford too many more slip ups after Julian Nagelsmann’s men lost their opening qualification contest against Slovakia and DFB should be well motivated against lowly Luxembourg. Over 3.5 rates a play in Sinsheim.Complete a 5/1 treble by playing Kosovo to beat Slovenia. Dardanians were excellent in a 2-0 Pristina win over Sweden in September and Franco Foda’s men can boost their American 5dream with another win on Friday evening.BET £10 AND GET £30 IN FREE BETS WITH TALKSPORT BETOdds correct at time of publish and subject to change*18+ New customers only. Opt in via mobile or app & bet £10+ on any football market at 2.00+ odds within 7 days. No Cash out. Get 6x £5 Free Bets on selected markets. Free bets expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply, see below. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsiblyRemember to gamble responsiblyA responsible gambler is someone who:Establishes time and monetary limits before playingOnly gambles with money they can afford to loseNever chase their lossesDoesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressedGamCare – www.gamcare.org.ukGamble Aware – www.gambleaware.orgFor help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org